Architectural Shapes with a Versatile Twist by Je Yong Jung & His SWITCH Gold Label

The squares of a towering building empower an office blazer. The circular arches of a Brooklyn cathedral softly support an elegant blouse. The flickering lights of a nighttime cityscape trim an evening party dress in gold.

It's as a storyteller that the Korean-born, Thailand-based designer Je Yong Jung approaches his designs for SWITCH GOLD LABEL, his women's RTW line now in its second season. "Building a collection is like writing a story book," he explains. "Each style forms a plot, and every garment is a character. However, it is the unexpected twists, turns, and surprises in these stories that make each fashion collection truly memorable and unique."

And practical.

With a quick slip of the wrist, a long dress can be made short, a fitted outfit draped over, and short sleeves made long - just like the rest of his garments which can all be worn in a variety of ways to meet multiple fits and functions.

This effortlessly chic balance of the artistic with the pragmatic are part of the reason his menswear line, WRKROOM, is a favorite of A-listers like Zac Efron and Je's talent in demand at high-profile companies including Urban Outfitters, Champion, Haggar & Reaction by Kenneth Cole.

Prices are surprisingly affordable, ranging from $75 to $200. For more info, be sure to visit the SWITCH FB page.

- Lesley Scott

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Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman ... in Love with Shoes & Scent

For their first foray into the fragrance market, Nine West opted to walk a slightly different path from their footwear designs. Instead of trendy, they went more timeless with LOVE FURY, from the elegant flacon which is topped with the heel of a stiletto to the seductive juice redolant with lush florals, fresh fruits, warm woods & addictive amber.

TOP NOTES: Rose Bud, Mimosa Petals, Juicy Mandarin, Red Berries Pulp

HEART: Tiare Tahiti, Jasmine Sambac, Sandalwood

DRY DOWN: Orris Flower, Sensual Musk, Precious Wood, Addictive Amber

LOVE FURY is available at NineWest.com & even comes with a sleek matching pointy-toe pump!

- Lesley Scott

[Note: These are affiliate links which go toward helping keep Fashiontribes in business.]

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A Pretty Print Tunic: How to Wear It (#2 out of 5 Different Ways)

Prints are such a fun way to freshen up your wardrobe, but if you invest in some (as I advised before when it comes to prints: don't cheap out), how do you make sure you'll get your money's worth? By wearing it all the time! Using the same chic Balmain satin-jersey print tunic (available at , I've pulled together 5 completely different looks to help inspire you!

For more on Look # 1 (at right) - CLICK HERE. In Look #2 above, the trick is to pick up on the gold tones in the print with matching touches of yellow and khaki:

- the army-taupe of the Alexander Wang sandals

- the yellow in the Proenza tote,

- the gold in the "Ballcrusher" earrings by Solange Azagury-Partridge.

Then nonchalantly toss on a black leather jacket - this one is by Rick Owens - to take the print straight into cool slouchy-chic territory.

- Lesley Scott

[note: the links are affiliate links]

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A Fun Idea: Match Your Mani to Your Stackable Rings

Stackable rings are great, provided they remain in a stack. Which is why I love the ones from Wendy Brandes - they are connected so you don't have to worry your pretty little head about losing one. What you should instead worry said head about is pairing your rings with fabulous & glitzy look-at-me nails.

- Lesley Scott

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That Perfect Little Boutique You Found Wandering Around Paris? It's Now Online!

Carefully curated by a savvy team of creative pros, each piece featured in the ICUinPARIS.com boutique also comes with a unique story to tell - like up-and-come'r Charlotte Martyr who writes on her inspiration page about her muses Grace Jones & Superman! From crystal statement rings to playful androgynous bowties, fashionistas & fashionistos can score bold & beautiful pieces without having to go into debt...or even leaving home for that matter.

- Lesley Scott

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Theatre + Fashion = Stylish Sartorial Drama

Hailing from a family of tailors and seamstresses, designer Megla M. by Stamatia Megla recently won the celebrated "100 Best New Fashion Designers" contest organized by UK fashion magazine Look. For FW'12, she continues to walk the line between timely & timeless, fusing her love of theater & passion for fashion with interesting textures - in particular, quilting & lace - dramatic cuts and a thematic feel.

Purchasing info at megla-m.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Harper's Bazaar Gets a Vintage Glam Makeover

Harper's BAZAAR is evolving its look starting with the March 2012 issue, mining its past for inspiration, in particular, the 1940s, when Alexey Brodovic was the creative director. Now being printed in a larger size, the result is more white space and a mix of photography that blends bold brights with moody black & white images. "The new BAZAAR reflects the elegance of our past, while looking forward to a fabulous future," says EIC Glenda Bailey who collaborated on the design with creative director Stephen Gan & design director Elizabeth Hummer. "Women look to BAZAAR for everything they need to live a fashionable life." This month's cover features Gwyneth Paltrow in silver screen siren mode (be sure to check out the full interview with her online) that recalls Hollywood's Golden Age. The issue also includes contributions from Karl Lagerfeld, artist Liu Bolin, Suzy Menkes and Vicky Ward.

The overall effect fuses retro sleek with today's more kinetic energy and obsession with the next new thing.  "Starting with the March issue, we are beginning a transformation that will enhance all elements of the brand--from the foundation of the magazine itself to our strong new presence in the digital world," adds Carol A. Smith, VP/publisher and chief revenue officer. "BAZAAR is one of those rare brands that has always had true elegance at its core—it's part of our birthright."

The magazine's legendary editor Carmel Snow would have approved, known as she was for observing that "elegance is good taste with a dash of daring."

- Lesley Scott

Photo credit: Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar

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Give Your Inner Rock Chick Something Girlie to Go on

Once you look past the bold print & fabulous foofiness of the skirt, you see it's actually a wardrobe classic - a feminine full skirt with nipped-in waist - in disguise! The blue leopard print is what makes it feel so fresh & up-do-date. Add a perfect drapey modal tee, some studded heels & bag & a denim jacket in an acid wash round out the balance of tough-meets-tender.

-styled by Karine Minzon Wilson

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Stuart Weitzman Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Million Dollar Shoe, with, what else, Shoes!

When the original "Million Dollar Shoe" - adorned with 464 diamonds - walked the red carpet at the Academy Awards, the world took notice. And what better way to celebrate its 10th anniversary than with an update: the "Millionairess" featured here on Natalia Vodianova and shot by Mario Testino.

Should all this blinding bling have given you stiff case of shoe envy, you'll be glad to know a slightly less pricey version embellished with (equally shiny) Swarovski crystals is available at Stuart Weitzman boutiques for just under $600.

- Lesley Scott

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Rick Owens in the Video Spotlight

Hi, I'm Lesley and I'm a Rick Owens addict.

Really, I'm hopeless.

He always manages to walk the line between forward-thinking, directional (editor-speak for "cool but completely unwearable") and actually wearable. For Spring 2012, he didn't send mere models down his runway. Please. These were "electrocuted martyrs" traversing a "gateway to heaven." Translation: amazing, maxi-length goodies that referenced fashion history as far back as the Renaissance and were rendered in pristine white, brick red & varying shades of charcoal to black. (Owens hates the "horny" way so many people dress right now, especially micro-miniskirts.)

AnOther is featuring an interesting quickie film-portrait by Danielle Levitt about Owens & his wife, Michele Lamy, who he met in Los Angeles when he was working as a pattern-maker at her design company. Since 2003, the pair have been based in the Seventh Arrondissement Paris in a 5-story mansion where they live and work together, a business arrangement which Owens describes as "kind of like asking a fascist and a gypsy to organize a war together." She being the latter and he the former. (Somewhat surprisingly.) "She's just so generous and so flexible with deadlines and I'm not," he continues. "She likes the complexity and eccentricity of working with artisans and I don't always have the patience for that."

Summing up his design aesthetic, he adds: "I like classicism. I like historic reference. I like if there is something new with something almost ancient."

- Lesley Scott

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Let Them Eat Cake & Laduree Macarons & .... Makeup!

After an enterprising miller from the southwest of France created a bakery at 16 rue Royale in Paris in 1862, it was a fire in the city that Haussmann was making over at the time that helped make Louis Ernest Laduree's name synonymous the world over with les macarons merveilleuses. In 1871, a pastry shop emerged from the ashes of the bakery, designed by the painter & poster artist Jules Cheret who was inspired by the techniques used at the Garnier Opera & the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Monsieur Laduree's wife, the daughter of a well-known hotelier in Rouen, had the idea of incorporating the concept of the literary salon so beloved by the city's high society, et voila, the new "salon de the" was born. Not only could ladies gather there without social reprove, but they could enjoy some good eats as well.

Laduree's pastel pretty smooth-on-the-outside-soft-in-the-middle macarons are still made daily from a precise combination of eggs, sugar & almonds - a key ingredient in many of the brand's luxurious hand- & body-creams.  And now, the gorgeous sugar-spun hues have inspired Les Merveilleuses De Laduree, a new collaboration with Albion Cosmetics of blushes, foundations & lip colors. 

They will launch exclusively in Japan, meaning those of us in Europe, the rest of Asia or the US will have to wait impatiently until later in the year to lay hands on some.

Until then, I'm enjoying sweet dreams about how pretty these will look prettying up my vanity - & me!

- Lesley Scott

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Vivienne Westwood Greens Up a Cute Tee for an Eco-Chic Cause

To help promote the planting of corridors of trees linking Europe's forests & re-greening some of the region's worst-affected areas, Dame Vivienne Westwood designed this fun new "Tree-shirt" printed on sustainable tees from ANVIL.

"I was approached by the United Nation Environmental Programme to design a t-shirt for their GreenUp! campaign," she explains. "This new initiative is about triggering new habits for a greener Europe and for greener economies," she continues. "It’s a really practical idea and it raises public awareness - it's great for the environment, great for people, great for animals."

The tees are available exclusively through YOOX.com & all the proceeds will go to UNEP's GreenUp! fund.

- Lesley Scott

[Note: the Yoox.com link is an affiliate link.]

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A Pretty Print Tunic: How to Wear It (#1 out of 5 Different Ways)

Although most the big fashion magazines have been an explosion of color, florals and prints the past few seasons, behind the scenes is a different (color) story. Were you were to suddenly find yourself at a typical fashion-industry event with editors & insiders in attendance, you'd be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled into a (very chic) funeral.

Black is always back because it's easy to wear and risk-free. But who wants to live their whole life in black, black & more black?

Prints are fresh and fun & can be totally do'able if you make this your new mantra: "I vow to pay for good quality! I vow to pay for good quality!" - like this striking satin-jersey print tunic from Balmain (available at NET-A-PORTER) which oozes Parisian chic from every pore (seam?) - and follow some simple rules:

(1) Be ready to spend money. Items like black pants, skinny jeans, neon jewelry - these are all good places to save your pennies and buy the cheap-o version from Zara, Mango or H&M where they focus on the look of the piece rather than ensuring it's really well made. Which is perfect because just about the time you start to get really bored with it, it's falling apart, which means you have a great excuse to go hunting for the newest must-have. However, when it comes to a key piece that features prominently on your person, like a top or tunic in a bold print, do not cheap out. Why? Because prints are relatively expensive to manufacture and when they're being sold at too low a price point, something's gotta give in the manufacturing - meaning crappy fabric and garish colors. Cheap prints look cheap. Only when they've got some leeway with the price can brands use nicer quality materials and prettier colors.  So when you decide to step away from the safety of all-black and enter the devil-may-care world of florals or prints, be prepared to spend some cash on your item.

(2) Be creative about how you wear it. Fashion should be fun, and if your closet is filled with really cool pieces you love, you'll enjoy the challenge of coming up with new ways to wear your latest find. If you invest a lot in a piece, the last thing it should be doing is hanging basically-unworn. Instead, make sure to get your money's worth! Here we paired the tunic with some leather-look skinnies (these are by Karl Lagerfeld - also available at NET-A-PORTER), a cozy charcoal duster/coat and neon-yellow accessories.

TIP: black and/or navy & white prints look fabu with loud colors, especially neon-brights!

Stay tuned for 4 more ways to rock this rockin' Balmain tunic.

- Lesley Scott

[Note: the links are affiliate links.]

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The Beachy-Chic Antidote to the Winter Wardrobe Blahs

While vacationing in Montauk recently, designers Michelle Zacks (of Spring & Clifton) and Yael Aflalo (of the Cali-based eco-label Reformation) were drawn to the Baja skater aesthetic featured at a local surf shop, in particular, the eyecatching textures, patterns & exuberant colors.

The result? A new Resort line launching just around the time we're mostly bored to death with our winter wardrobes.

The Reformation x Spring & Clifton Collaboration is limited to 10 pieces, mostly combinations of Baja & leather along with reworked cashmere knits & super-soft tees that have a slightly-punk vibe, like kilt-pin closures and hand-placed safety pin details. Designed to replicate easy-breezy Baja beach style, everything is designed to pair easily with items you already own "I would say that our collective teenage years spent in Southern California played a role in the look of the collab," adds Michelle. "References include surf and skate culture, music, art and downtown NYC meets SoCa."

Prices range from $85 to $300. Available at TheReformation.com.

- Lesley Scott

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Cool New Manicure Tool Alert! Get Perfectly Painted Nails Even if Your Technique Isn't.

In the same way applying wax on fabric acts as a barrier against color when you do tie-dye, so Kiesque's clever Liquid Palisade is like painter's tape for nails! You simply brush it on where you don't want color to go, like your cuticles. It then dries super-quickly, becoming stretchy and string-like, allowing you to paint right over it almost immediately. Then let your coat of nail polish dry for a minute and peel the Liquid Palisade off. Voila! No pesky color smudges on your cuticles.

Alternatively, use Liquid Palisade to make fun nail art. Paint your nails with one coat of color and let dry. Paint on the Liquid Palisade in stripes across your nail (or polka dots or whatever piques your fancy) and then paint your nails with a second color. Once that dries, peel off the Liquid Palisade and admire your professional-looking handiwork.

- Lesley Scott

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A Fresh Take on the White Shirt

What piques the interest of hot new fashion talent?  For some, it's the design path less traveled. Veering away from the easy route - bling, novelty fabrics, out-there design - Central Saint Martins grads Levi Palmer & Matthew Harding found themselves attracted to the challenge of overhauling that staid wardrobe staple, the white shirt, and making it fresh again. Part of the reason was timing; Harding graduated in 2010 in the depths of a deep recession. "Suddenly the idea of designing party dresses didn't quite fit the mood," the London native recently explained to Vogue (Feb. 2012). The duo looked to the past for inspiration, in particular the intricate pleating and hand finishing techniques of 30s couturiers like Madame Gres. With such a laser-like focus on special details, the fact they limit their palette to a single garment makes sense as a distraction-free way of "highlighting the progressive beauty and craft of the garments." 

Before launching palmer//harding at S/S 12 London Fashion Week, the pair was nominated for the prestigious ANDAM award 2011 in Paris. Their fledgling label is now sponsored by TOPSHOP's NEWGEN program, which previously mentored Erdem, Christopher Kane & Alexander McQueen.

- Lesley Scott

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